Question

What is the need for Elections? What are the comparative advantages and disadvantages of Direct and Indirect Elections?

Answer 1

Election is a mechanism by which people choose their representatives at regular intervals and change them if they wish to do so.

In an election the voters make many choices. They can choose the one who will malke laws for them.

They can choose who will form the government and take major decisions.

They can choose the one party whose policies will guide the government and lwa making.

So, Elections are considered essential for representative democracy.

Advantages of Direct Election are:-
As the voters elect their representatives directly, direct elections are considered to be a more democratic method of election.It educates people regarding the government activities and helps in choosing appropriate candidates. Also, it encourages people to play an active role in politics.It empowers people and make the rulers accountable for their actions.

Disadvantages of Direct Election are:-
Direct elections are very expensive. It incurs huge expenditure on the public exchequer. For example in the nine phased 2014 Lok Sabha elections, a whopping 30,000 crore was spent by the government, political parties and candidates. Out of which, the Election Commission alone spent 3,426 crores.Illiterate voters sometimes gets misguided by false propaganda and sometimes vote taking in to caste, religious and various other sectarian considerations. This may result in the election of undeserving candidates. There are also instances of Cash for voteSince conducting direct elections are a massive exercise, ensuring free and fair elections at all the polling booths may not be possible. There are some instances of booth capturing, violence, intimidation of election officials etc. which undermines the credentials of the election process.

Advantages of Indirect Election are:-
Indirect elections are less expensive.
It is more suited to elections in large countries.

Disadvantages of Indirect Election are:-
Since the number of voters are very small. There exists possibility of corruption, bribery, horse trading etc.It is less democratic because people do not have direct opportunity to elect, they instead do through their representatives. So, this may not reflect the true will of the people.